Ginseng is a perennial herb widely used in China, Japan, and Korea. It is also one of the most commonly used herbal medicines in the U.S. Although it is generally considered safe to use, adverse effects associated with ginseng use have been reported. Inappropriate ginseng use, such as high dose administration, may cause insomnia, headaches, diarrhea, as well as cardiovascular and endocrine disorders. Other factors that may contribute to adverse effects of ginseng include the variety of ginseng species, variability in commercial ginseng preparations, and potential ginseng-drug interactions. To minimize adverse effects of ginseng, consumers should be advised to use it appropriately, and the herbal industry should try to provide standardized ginseng preparations.

The present study was aimed to examine the role of endothelium in the relaxant effect of hawthorn fruit extract of Crataegus pinnatifida in four different types of rat arteries, posterior cerebral communicating artery, right descending coronary artery, common carotid artery, and aorta. In , (U46619)-preconstricted arterial rings except for aorta, the extract produced endothelium-independent relaxations with similar potency. This relaxation was unaffected by pretreatment with methylester (L-NAME, the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor), 1H-[l,2,4]oxadiazoloquinoxalin-1-one (ODQ, the guanylate cyclase inhibitor), or indomethacin (the cyclooxygenase inhibitor). Putative channel blockers (charybdotoxin plus apamin or glibenclamide) did not affect the extract-induced relaxation in cerebral or coronary artery rings. In contrast, in rat aortic rings the extract produced significantly smaller relaxant response in endothelium-denuded rings than that in endothelium-intact rings. Pretreatment with L-NAME or ODQ abolished the extractinduced endothelium-dependent aortic relaxation, whilst indomethacin had no effect. The present results indicate that hawthorn fruit extract possesses a vasorelaxing effect in cerebral, coronary and carotid arteries and this effect is independent of the presence of a functional endothelium. However, the extract-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation in rat aorta was mediated through endothelial nitric oxide and cyclic GMP-dependent mechanisms, suggesting that active components in the extract may act on endothelium to stimulate release of nitric oxide in large conduit arteries of the rats.

Liver cirrhosis is characterized by hyperaccumulation of fibrous tissue components and is commonly observed in latter or terminal states of chronic hepatic diseases. In this study, the antifibrotic effects of GLM001 on liver cirrhosis were examined in bile duct ligated rats and patients with hepatic diseases. GLM001 (250 mg/kg rat weight/ day) was administrated to cirrhotic rats for 4 weeks and to humans for 14 weeks. Bile duct ligated rats significantly increased liver collagen content and biochemical markers of hepatic injury. Liver histology showed collagen fiber deposition was increased and the normal architecture was lost with large zones of necrosis being observed frequently. GLM001 administrated rats showed significantly decreased liver collagen content, and accumulation of collagen fiber in histological analysis. Patients, who were treated with GLM001, showed decreases in biochemical markers of hepatic diseases. These results demonstrate the usefulness of GLM001 as an antifibrotic agent for liver cirrhosis.

A battery of neuropharmacological experiments showed the hot water extract of Ocimum sanctum Linn. (Labiateae) had a depressant effect on the central nervous system (CNS), but the aqueous extract showed no effect on it. The hot water extract reduced the spontaneous locomotor activity, exploratory head dipping, propulsive locomotion and exploratory ambulation as well as prolonged the pentobarbital induced sleeping time. The depressant effect starts from 60 minutes after the drug administration and continued to 180 minutes. The drug may exert central depressant effect by interfering with the function of the cortex.

Falun Gong (FG) is an advanced system of cultivation and practice, which is beneficial for both mind and body. In this study we investigated the effects of FG on the production of cytokines in FG practitioner (FGP). To study whether plasma cytokines levels were affected by FG, their levels were analyzed. The amount of , interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4 and IL-6 (2.5-fold for , 1.2-fold for IL-2, 2.1-fold for IL-4 and 2.5-fold for IL-6, respectively) were significantly higher in the FGP group than normal group (P<0.05). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from normal healthy control and FGP were cultured for 24 h in the presence or absence of lipopolysaccharide. The amount of , IL-2, IL-4 and IL-6 in culture supernatant was quantified. However, there were no significant differences in the level of the same cytokines between the normal and FGP group. These data suggest that FG cultivation may contribute to immune-enhancement in vivo.

Cigarette smoking contributes to lung cancer, cardiovascular diseases, oral diseases, etc. In desire to reduce their risk of disease, many cigarette smokers have tried to quit smoking. Sensory aspects of cigarette smoke are important for providing smoking satisfaction. Previously it was reported that citric acid aerosol significantly reduced craving for cigarettes and enhances smoking reduction and cessation. In this study, we tested whether a newly combined product Ciga-X, an aerosol for cessation aid, had toxicity in human embryonic lung fibroblast (MRC-9). The inhibitory effect of Ciga-X on cytotoxicity induced by cigarette smoke extract (CSE) or nicotine was examined in MRC-9, and craving for cigarettes and smorkers satisfaction after using Ciga-X was estimated. Ciga-X did not affect cell viability and had no toxicity in MRC-9. Ciga-X significantly inhibited not only CSE-induced cytotoxicity but also nicotine-induced cytotoxicity in MRC-9. One hundred and forty smokers rated the satisfaction for Ciga-X aerosol and craving reduction for cigarettes after using Ciga-X. The percentage of over 5 rating was 71.0% and 50.0% of subjects in satisfaction test for Ciga-X compared to their own brand and in craving reduction for cigarette, respectively. Besides, craving reduction for cigarette was highly correlated with the duration of smoking. Subjects have smoked under 10 years were more reduced in craving for cigarettes after using Ciga-X as compared to over 10 years (p=0.049). These results suggest that Ciga-X may be effective in promoting smoking abstinence with the reduction of CSE- or nicotine-induced human lung fibroblasts cytotoxicity.